Display device



June 21, 1932. v ZELEDON' 1,863,611

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I74 We for JZfredfi.ZeZedara y FJQ @GM/i;

June 2], 1932. ZELEDON 1,863,611

DI SPLAY 'DEVICE' Filed June 10. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I72 yer afarJbredfl ZeZedan Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES ALFRED n. ZELEDON,or CHICAGO,

PATENT OFFICE ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '1'0 SCENEJN-ACTION CORPORA- DISPLAYDEVICE Application filed June 10,

provision of a display device which shall consist of or include apicture having fixed parts and moving parts, the moving parts givbereduced. Another object is mg the appearance of actual motion during theactuation ot the device. One object is the provision of a display deviceof the type described, in which the number of parts shall the provisionof such a device in which the appearance of motion shall be improved inits realism. Other objects will appear from time to time in the courseof the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates parts broken away;

Figure .2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail of the type of shutter shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate variant forms of incandescent globe orbulb which may be employed with my device, Figure 5 illustrata sideelevation with mg one which is adaptable to the design il- B lustratedin the parts of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 8 illustrates a form of exterior shade with an ornamental desithereon;

Figure 9 illustrates a mov' g shutter apprgpriate for use with the shadeof Figure 8; an

Figure 10 illustrates a form of bulb ap-, propriate for use with themembers shown in Figures 8 and 9;

ike parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification anddrawings.

Referring to the drawings and considering first the form of Figures 1 to5, A generally indicates any. suitable base upon which may be mounted atranslucent. shade A which may be provided with any suitableillustrative designs and may for example include water portions A landportions A and the moon A. member A is fixed. It may support anysuitable cover or top member A Referring for example to Figures 1 and 5,

It will be understood that the C 1931. Serial No. 543,331.

B generally indicates an incandescent bulb having the screwthreadedportion B adapted to lit into the usual electric light socket B l3indicates the usual wiring connection adaptable for insertion by meansof the plug into any suitable electric power outlet. The lower portionof the bulb B is irregularly formed or grooved as at B in order to breakup the light which is delivered to the portion A of the outer screen A.It will be noted that the interior of the portion A ,'in line with theirregularly formed portion B of the globe B is also irregularly formedas at B. This formation of the globe and of the inner surface of thescreen member A g in cooperation with the exterior water design on thescreen A tends to give an efi'ect indicating the reflection of lightupon water. The upper portion of the bulb may be formed with a designgenerally corresponding to the design upon the screen A For example inalignment with the land portions A of the screen I may illustrate moreor less opaque port-ions B of the bulb B. In line with the moon A is themoon B in the shape of a spot of clear glass through which light freelypasses, the rest of the surface of the bulb being less translucent, invarying degree. Note also that the degree of translucence in theportion. B of the bulb B may be varied. For example the bottoms of theindividual grooves or troughs may be either more or less translucentthan the tops, thereby obtaining an uneven distribution of light such asis characteristic of moonlight upon water. Referring again to Figure 1,C indicates a pivot support terminating in a point C adapted topenetrate an aperture G in the center of the top frame C from whichdepends the light pervious shutter structure C. This structure is shownin the form of a cylinder having a lower portion C provided withdiagonal lines or bands or strips C of varying translucence. The upperportion of the member C may be provided with a design including clouds Con a sky background When the parts are in the position in which they areshown in Figure 1 and the electric light is lighted, the heat of thelight causes the air to flow upwardly through the base A and within thechutter G into contact. with the fan members C whereby the upward flowof heated air causes a rotation of the shutter member (3*. The heatedair may flow upwardly through the shutter members D D provided withopposed apertures D Since the members D, D as shown in Figure 4, arerelatively rotatable, the degree of overlap of the apertures may becontrolled and thereby the speed of upward circulation of the-heated airthus providing controlling means for the speed of rotation of theshutter C: It will be realized that when the shutter C rotates it passesbetween the bulb B and the outer member A The shutter may be entirelytranslucent, but of varying degrees of translucence, the effect of itsrotation will be to cause the appearance of clouds floating across thesky portion of the design shown in the member A The inclined strips Cpassing between the relief portions B and B of globe and shutter,cooperate in giving a very lifelike imitation of the reflection ofmoonlight upon rippling or moving water. The clouds will give appearanceof occasionally passing over and partially obscuring the moon.

This particular design is merely illustrative and I do not-wish to belimited to any specific design. For example I may employ the designshown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 in which the member A is formed with alower water section E, a waterfall E the boiling whirlpool or agitatedwater E at the base of the waterfall and the cloud covered sky E abovethe fall, with mountains or rocks E at one side. In order to assist inobtaining the realistic water effect I undulate or otherwise relieve theinner surface of the.

member A as at E. In the place of the generally smooth bulb, of Figure 5I may employ the bulb of Figure 10 which carries sub-' stantially thesame design on it, either in color or in relief as is carried on theouter screen of Figure 8. This bulb may have the water undulations orreliefG, a portion G corresponding to the waterfall, the .portion Grcorresponding to the portionE of the screen, the cloud covered sky G andthe rocks or mountains G". Preferably the design is helped out inrelief, the undulating character of the water being clearly illustratedin Figure 10. However, the same effect rnay be obtained at leastpartially by merely varying the translucence and color of the variousparts of the design.

I may employ with the screen and bulb of Figures 8 and 10 a shutterincluding the lower water portion I-I having inclined or spiral lines ofvarying color and translucence. A smaller band H is aligned with thedisturbed water E or G at the base of;

the waterfall. The band H in the shutter is represented by rathersharply inclined bands of varying color or translucence, inclined inopposition to those of the water band as indicated at H. H is a band inalignment with the waterfall E and H is aband of sky flecked withclouds. In the operation of the device the rotation of the shutterbetween the bulb and the outer screen results in a very lively andrealistic imitation of flowing water in the lower portion of thepicture, a waterfall and a whirlpool or surge of water at the base ofthe waterfall, with clouds actually passing over the sky above.

The bulbs I and I of Figures 6 and 7 merely illustrate different typesof bulb which may be employed to obtain difierent effects. For examplethe bulb of Figure 7 is useful in obtaining an effect of falling rainwhereas the bulb of Figure 6 fits well into fire scenes.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I find it desirable in providing a display device to give the illusionof moving parts in a picture, to employ a fixed screen, herein shown asa cylindrical outer screen, and a light source. I place between thescreen and I the light source a moving shutter. Preferably I positionwithin the moving shutter and about the light source a second fixedscreen, which may be the glass or envelope of the light source itself. Iprefer to form or mark the bulb to conform to and help in theillustration of the desired picture. This is illustrated in Figures 5,6, 7 and 10. I may do this in relief or by varying translucence or byvariation in color or by any desired combination thereof. I haveillustrated as examples the employment of bulbs having undulating waterportions, fire portions and the like.

I also find it desirable to form one or both faces of the outer screenin relief. I have herein illustrated the relief as applied only to theinner face. In general this is preferable as it permits a smooth, forexample, cylindrical face, for the display of the picture. On the otherhand I do not wish to be limited to the employment of relief on theinside only or to'the employment of relief at all.

Preferably I avoid the employment of opacity. For example my bulb mayhave no opacity whatsoever. This is to be pre 'ferred, since opacitymerely cuts ofi and was es light and I an o tain my desired 25 fects oflight and shade or of light and dark mainly by varying or contrastingtranslucence. The shutter C also is preferably free of opaque portionsand while I do not wish to be limited specifically, except so far as Ilimit myself by my claims, to an arrangement in which opacity is notemployed, I find that on the whole variation in translucence is to bepreferred.

p I claim:

1. In a display device, a light source, a translucent exterior displaymember carrying a picture having portions representing fixed objects andother portions representing objects in motion, the various portions ofsaid picture being of var ing translucence and color, a normally xed,translucent screen interposed between said light source and said displaymember, said screen being of varying translucence and being adapted tocause the projection upon the translucent display member of lightvarying in intensity in relation to the different parts of the picture,and a moving translucent screen, interposed between said fixed screenand said translucent display member, said moving screen includingportions of varyingtranslucence and being adapted to cause, in responseto its movement, an appearance of motion upon the translucent displaymember, said display member and fixed translucent screen includingsurfaces having portions in relief, in association with the picture.

2. In a display device, a circumferential translucent screen having adesign on the exterior surface thereof, the interior surface beingformed in relief in relation to said design, a light source within saidcircumferential screen and a moving light pervious screen interposedbetween said circumferential screen and said light source, said movingscreen having associated therewith design portions relating to thedesign upon the circumferential screen.

3. In a display device, a translucent screen having a picture thereonand an incandescent bulb associated therewith, said bulb being providedwith relief portions having relation to the picture on said screen. o

4. In a display device, a translucent screen having a picture thereonand an incandescent bulb associated therewith, said bulb being providedwith relief portions having relation to the picture on said screen, anda moving lightpervious screen member positioned between the screen andthe bulb.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 5th day ofJune, 1931.

ALFRED H. ZELEDON.

